Friday, June 25, 2004

Perth, Australia, is fluoridated: "Paediatric dentists say rotten teeth in very young Perth children is a massive problem with about 20 children a week being given a general anaesthetic for extensive reconstructive dentistry and a further seven for extractions."

"Humboldt County is facing a critical shortage of dentists who will care for low-income children -- children who are much more likely to have tooth problems than those from more affluent families. The overwhelming majority of private dentists refuse, as a general rule, to take Medi-Cal or Healthy Families, insurance for low-income families not poor enough to qualify for Medi-Cal."

"`Thirty-five percent of the children we saw in Norwich had active decay,' said Pamela Kilbey Fox, director of health and social services for New London. `That's really significant for a disease that's entirely preventable.'"

Norwich, Connecticut is fluoridated. In fact, Connecticut is a fluoridation mandated state.

"Unfortunately, fluorosis has no cure. The only way out is prevention at an early stage. Initial symptoms are sporadic pain and stiffness of joints, which escalates into chronic joint pain, arthritis and calcification of ligaments.

Fluoride can enter the human body through food, toothpaste, mouth rinses and, of course, more swiftly through drinking water. A colourless and odourless natural pollutant, fluoride comes in contact with the groundwater via erosion of fluoride bearing rock minerals. "

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

"Researchers with Urgent Matters, which is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that severely restricted access to specialty care and mental health services and almost nonexistent dental care are driving many more patients to seek attention in emergency departments."

Sunday, June 20, 2004

"A government study shows cavity-fighting water fluoridation may cause children to absorb unhealthy and cavity-producing amounts of lead into their bodies, according to an abstract presented at the 2003 National Oral Health Conference and printed in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry(1). Previous published research also links fluoridation chemicals to higher blood lead levels."

Thursday, June 10, 2004

"Emerging awareness of the nature and severity of oral diseases and disorders and their serious impact on overall health and well-being, combined with a nationwide crisis in access to oral health care for populations with the most and worst disease, makes it imperative that non-dental health and childcare professionals engage more fully in oral health promotion and disease prevention. "

North Carolina is 84% fluoridated and has fluoride mouthrinse programs:

"'Dental decay is the most common health problem among North Carolina?s school children; 44% of the state's school-age youngsters experience dental disease.
'More than 30,000 children - 36% of those entering kindergarten - have a history of dental caries. One in four go untreated"